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"Minister Zhao, you really need iron ore."

In the reception room of the Governor's Palace, Fan Dimen sat on the main seat, drinking coffee ground from coffee beans brought from Brazil in South America, and asked with a serious face.

Iron ore was not available near Batavia, but it was found on the Dutch- and British-controlled island of Sumatra, but it was not mined on a large scale.

The islands were nominally controlled by the Dutch and British, but in practice they were not very strong, and they did not build much permanent strongholds, often only as ships to dock for fresh water or shelter from storms.

There is iron ore in Sumatra, which is not a secret to the Dutch, but it has not been mined, and even if it is mined, there is no market, and the world in the 17th century, the demand for steel was not as huge as in later generations, so the supply of iron ore in Europe can basically meet the needs of various countries.

During this period, there was no trade in long-distance export of iron ore, but it was relatively not so large, and now when he heard Zhao Shijie's demand for iron ore, Fan Dimen was also shocked, did the Australians really want to build a big iron ship on land.

"Of course, Your Excellency the Governor, we have always had a great demand for iron ore, and you have also seen our big iron ships, as if we want to build such a big iron ship, the steel required is very huge, although our territory in Australia is vast, but the iron ore found at present is quite limited."

Zhao Shijie explained this, and Van Diemen also understood why Australians would go all the way to Batavia to buy iron ore. If Australia really wants to build a road paved with steel, then the iron ore required is absolutely huge, but I don't know what the Australians will ask for.

"Minister Zhao, are you really sure that there is an iron ore mine in Sumatra." Van Diemen was a little unconvinced, how could the Australians be so sure, could it be that they had secretly landed on the island to check.

"Hehe, Mr. Governor, you must know that my ancestors traveled south from Luzon through Sumatra and finally arrived in Australia, and they have a good understanding of the geography and people along the way, and they have a detailed record of what they saw and heard along the way, which can be found in the historical archives of our National Library of Australia."

In fact, to put it bluntly, Zhao Shijie is talking nonsense, if he doesn't say so, how can he explain that he knows the location of the iron mine, can he say that he is from the 21st century.

Even the Dutch at this time knew that there were iron ore mines in Sumatra, but they were not sure that there was a large iron ore deposit.

Now that the ancestors of the Australians have landed in Sumatra and have recorded the presence of iron ore there, the next step is to talk about cooperation.

Although these places are nominally Dutch territory, they are in fact controlled by the island's natives.

"Minister Zhao, can you be sure that we will mine the iron ore here, mining requires manpower and is very costly, not only to build fixed fortifications, but also to live in workers' settlements, these investments, do you really think the Dutch East India Company will be willing to invest?"

As a veteran of the business field, the cunning Van Diemen asked the other party how he was so sure that the Dutch East India Company would put money into it, although mining was also a lucrative business, but compared to the trade of tea, silk, and spices, it was much less profitable.

Zhao Shijie squinted his eyes and did not speak, the corners of his mouth showed a slight arc and smiled slightly, and said with some playfulness: "Could it be that I am wrong, if the Dutch East India Company is not interested, I think the British will be very interested, after all, this is also within their sphere of influence." "

The British, damn Britain will be interested, yes, that's right, these guys like flies are everywhere, always following behind the Netherlands to pick up dates, although in North America and the Far East Dutch East India Company have suppressed them, but these hillbillies are like tenacious cockroaches to survive, I really don't know how they have survived under the suppression until now.

Compared with the suppression in North America, the British at this time in Southeast Asia are much better, which is also not very related to their power here, during this period the Dutch in this is the absolute hegemon, even in the face of the old empire Spain can also directly not give face, but many times the Dutch will still take into account their feelings, after all, the emaciated camel is bigger than the horse.

I don't think the British had the guts to mine here, and this was the territory of the Dutch East India Company. Van Dimen said confidently that in his mind, although Britain has some power in this region, it is to seek death to confront the absolute hegemon of the Netherlands.

"Your Excellency the Governor, do you really think so confidently that Britain does not have the strength?"

Zhao Shijie deliberately squinted his eyes and smiled, giving people an unpredictable expression, and Fan Dimen didn't dare to say directly to be sure, if there were Australians behind the scenes, maybe the British would really dare to do this, after all, they built a trading post here, and if they got the strong firepower support of the Australians, I believe that the British would be able to stand still.

However, Zhao Shijie did not intend to let the Dutch think that Australia and the British colluded together and united into allies, although this could deter the Netherlands to a certain extent, but with the current strength of the Dutch East India Company, it would definitely not give in, and it would definitely experience a big war.

"Your Excellency, do you not think that the Dutch approach in the Far East is somewhat unbearable? Both the Spaniards and the Portuguese already had ideas. ”

"Thought, this is impossible, Portugal has fallen to the point of becoming a Spanish dependency, although those Restoration Party is not dead, but it is absolutely impossible for them to unite with the Spaniards without gaps."

Then only Spain and the British are likely to come together, and if Britain wants to continue to expand its sphere of influence in the Far East, it is difficult to do so on its own terms, so it can only unite with one that has already established itself in the Far East, and Spain is the best choice.

"Minister Zhao, I'm afraid you're alarmist, how can the Spaniards and the British be together." Fan Dimen immediately exposed Zhao Shijie's lies.

Your Excellency the Governor, please take a look at this first, Zhao Shijie took out a document from his pocket and pushed it in front of Fan Dimen. This is a record of the British Far East Affairs Officer's contacts with the Spaniards in Luzon, and although there is not enough evidence that they were in an alliance, it would have been very different if it had been given to the Dutch.

After reading the document, Fan Dimen frowned, and seemed to believe Zhao Shijie's words, "Zhao, I think we can talk about iron ore, the Dutch East India Company is still very interested." (My novel "Crossing 1640" will have more fresh content on the official WeChat platform, and there will also be a 100% lucky draw gift for everyone!) Open WeChat now, click on the "+" sign in the upper right corner to "add friends", search for the official account "qdread" and follow, hurry up! )